Queen meets Australians to celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations

The Queen has met prominent Australians to celebrate 100 years of diplomatic
relations with the nation.

2:45AM GMT 19 Feb 2010

Writer Kathy Lette drew a laugh from the Queen when she described herself as virtually monarchy.

Celebrity artist Rolf Harris and Foreign Secretary David Miliband were among other guests mingling at Australia House last night.

Jacob's Creek and Crown beer were laid on at the gathering for Britons with connections to the country and leading Australians from the arts, business and diplomatic worlds.

Lette - author of Foetal Attraction - said after meeting the Queen: ''I said to her, 'Ma'am I have inverted snobbery, I'm from the first and second fleet (that landed in Australia) - I'm practically Antipodean royalty' and she laughed.

''I think what the royals like about us Australians is that we are not sycophantic, we are friendly and fresh and feisty.''

One hundred years ago Sir George Reid, a former prime minister, was appointed as Australia's first high commissioner to the UK - the nation's inaugural overseas post to represent their interests.

Today the role is filled by John Dauth, who served the Queen as an assistant press secretary for three years until 1980.

Describing the significance of the centenary, he told the Queen and guests: ''When the first of my predecessors, Sir George Reid, arrived in London in February of 1910, your great grandfather was still on the throne.''

To laughter he added: ''Since then, of course, we've had five sovereigns, a place occupied by you for 58% of the time since then.''

Australia's foreign minister Stephen Smith said the post established 100 yeas ago was ''not only a milestone in the Australia-United Kingdom relationship but an important first step in Australian diplomatic history.''

Commenting on the achievements of more than 20 high commissioners, he said: ''They have negotiated loans to develop the Australian economy, they have served as important conduits between our governments in peace and in war, including the fighting of two world wars, they have helped to oversee large-scale immigration programmes - the foundation of the modern Australia.''

A new exhibition and complementary book showcasing the work of the high commissioners over the last 100 years and highlighting Anglo-Australian relations was viewed by the Queen and Duke before they left.